AUSTIN  The Texas Animal Health Commission is
attempting to get the word out that as of Wednesday,
Sept. 1, state law wil1 require that equine, including
horses, donkeys, mules and asses, be tested for equine
infectious anemia within 12 months prior to undergoing
any change of ownership.

The law exempts nursing foals changing ownership with
their test-negative dams, and equine sold to slaughter.
Persons who sell equine and fail to comply with the law,
passed as House Bill 1732 in the 76th Texas Legislature,
commit a Class "C" misdemeanor.

"Buying test-negative animals will reduce the
chance of taking home an infected animal," says Dr.
Terry Beals, executive director of the Texas Animal
Health Commission, the state's livestock health
regulatory agency. "It's a real shame to buy an
untested horse, get home, and find out later that the
animal is infected and has exposed your best horse to the
disease."

EIA, also known as "Coggins" or "swamp
fever," is a viral disease spread from an infected
equine to a "clean" equine by blood-to-blood
contact. Biting flies can mechanically carry the disease
from one horse to another, and unsterilized medical
instruments or blood transfusions can also put equine at
risk. Mosquitoes are not capable of spreading EIA.

Like some other viral diseases, EIA can strike as an
acute infection, in which the animal becomes very ill and
dies. At the other extreme are infected equine that show
no signs of being ill, but test positive for the disease.
These equine pose a threat, as no one suspects the animal
has a health problem even though it is a reservoir for
disease.

"Our 12 governor-appointed commissioners have
proposed regulations that will bring us in line with the
new change-of-ownership testing law and clarify
conditions for selling equine to slaughter without a
test," says Beals.

"The commissioners have struggled with the
question of the untested equine moving through a market
to slaughter," he adds. "At this point, they
are against it. However, until their final vote is cast
and regulations are adopted, we recommend that markets
require a test for all horses, even if they are expected
to be sold for slaughter. If, however, the markets elect
to sell untested equine to slaughter, the animals will be
allowed to move only to the plant under a restricted
permit, known as a VS 1-27, issued by a TAHC inspector or
veterinarian."

The commissioners may adopt regulations at their
mid-September meeting in Austin. The law, however, will
be in effect September 1, requiring that the equine have
an EIA test within the past 12 months. The person
transferring the ownership is responsible for having the
equine tested, whether the animal is traded or sold at a
public auction or private sale, or is just given away.

TAHC commissioners, each of which represent the public
or a segment of the livestock industry, have proposed the
following:

 Foals that are nursing and are less than eight
months old would be exempt from EIA testing, if they
undergo change of ownership with their dam. The mare,
however, must have tested negative for EIA within the
previous 12 months.

 Zebras would be exempt from the
change-of-ownership testing rule.

 If an equine is not tested, it could be sold
only direct to a slaughter plant, where a blood sample
would be collected for testing at state expense.

Testing for EIA is relatively simple. An accredited
veterinarian must draw the blood sample, complete the
accompanying paperwork, and send the specimen and
document to one of 130-plus laboratories in Texas
approved by the U.S. Department of Agriculture to conduct
EIA tests. Results generally take three to five days if
the specimens are handled by mail.

"After the USDA establishes guidelines, some
horse markets may set up "off-site"
laboratories to expedite EIA testing just prior to the
sale," notes Beals. "Thanks to new technology,
test results can be available in only a few hours. To
prevent disappointment, sellers should call ahead before
hauling an untested horse to a market."

If an equine tests positive at the market lab, the
owner may elect to have the animal tested again. After a
second blood sample is collected and sent to the Texas
Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory, the animal is
to be taken home, under a restricted movement permit,
issued by a TAHC inspector. While awaiting test results,
the equine in question and all other equine on the
premise of origin are to be quarantined.

"If the confirmation test is positive, this
animal will be handled as any infected equine, according
to TAHC regulations," says Beals. He explains that
the animal would be permanently identified with the
official "74A" on the upper left shoulder
unless it is euthanized immediately. Other equine on the
premise would be considered exposed to the disease and
would remain under quarantine until tested negative for
the disease at least 60 days after the infected animal is
removed.

To help prevent the spread of disease, TAHC
regulations require EIA-infected equine to be euthanized,
sold for slaughter or sent to a research facility. If the
animal must be kept, it is to remain permanently
quarantined at least 200 yards from other equine. In
1998, 370 equine tested positive for the disease in
Texas.

"Infected equine will be allowed to move through
the market to slaughter, as they are permanently
identified with the 74-A brand and are inspected within
24 hours prior to entering the market," he said. As
part of the inspection, the TAHC or USDA-accredited
veterinarian will ensure that the animal has no clinical
signs of the disease and has a normal temperature. The
animal will move under the VS 1-27 permit, must remain
isolated under a roof at the market, and remain on the
premises no longer than 24 hours.

"Other aspects of the EIA regulations will not
change," explains Beals. A negative EIA test within
the previous 12 months is required for equine transported
to events, races, trail rides, assemblies, or other
gatherings, where they will commingle with other equine.
The EIA test document, called a VS 10-11, is adequate
proof of testing. Equine used exclusively for ranch work
are exempt from EIA tests unless they are undergoing
change of ownership.